C-myc mRNA expression in epithelial ovarian carcinomas in relation to estrogen receptor status, metastatic spread, survival time, FIGO stage, and histologic grade and type.
Recently, it has been suggested that c-myc expression might correlate with estrogen receptor (ER) status and metastatic spread in ovarian cancer. In this study, expression of c-myc mRNA in 90 epithelial ovarian carcinomas was determined using the S1 nuclease protection assay. Expression of c-myc mRNA was detectable in 27 of 90 tumors. There was no significant association between c-myc mRNA expression and metastatic spread, survival time, FIGO stage, or histologic grade and type. C-myc mRNA was expressed in 45% of ER-positive tumors but only 24% of ER-negative tumors (p = 0.094; Fisher's exact test). Similarly, 44% of progesterone receptor (PR)-positive and 23% of PR-negative tumors expressed c-myc mRNA (p = 0.098). However, the association between c-myc mRNA expression and ER and PR status was not statistically significant. The ratio of mean expression of c-myc mRNA in patients with FIGO stages III/IV compared with patients with FIGO stages I/II was 2.1:1, an insignificant difference (p = 0.57, Wilcoxon rank sum test). In conclusion, c-myc was not significantly associated with the clinical parameters investigated in this study.
Tanner
B
B
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mainz, Germany.
Hengstler
J G
JG
Luch
A
A
Meinert
R
R
Kreutz
E
E
Arand
M
M
Wilkens
C
C
Hofmann
M
M
Oesch
F
F
Knapstein
P G
PG
Becker
R
R
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D015996:Survival Rate
D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone